Lamar Jackson injury status (Getty Images)

Lamar Jackson stood at the center of Baltimore’s football universe this week, calm and certain, as the Ravens prepared for a season-defining Sunday night showdown. The quarterback’s presence alone reshapes the stakes of Week 18, where nothing less than the AFC North crown is on the line.

After missing last week’s win, his return restores belief inside the locker room and urgency across the rivalry.The timing could not be sharper. Baltimore and Pittsburgh enter the finale knowing the margin for error is zero. One team advances, the other packs up. Jackson’s availability turns the game from a grind into a test of will, discipline, and composure, especially against a defense that has already seen him once this season.

Lamar Jackson returns to raise the stakes in a winner-take-all clash

The confirmation came without hesitation after practice. When asked if he would start, Jackson said, "100 percent. I'll be out there (...) I feel great right now." Later, he doubled down with a simpler promise: "I'm gonna be out there," removing any lingering doubt about his status. After absorbing a knee to the back against New England, Jackson watched Tyler Huntley steady the ship in Green Bay, but this moment always belonged to the former MVP.

Huntley did more than fill in. He managed the offense, protected the ball, and showed efficiency that kept Baltimore rolling. Still, the Ravens are built around Jackson’s range. His ability to threaten defenses with his arm and legs changes how opponents call every snap. Pittsburgh knows that well. In the first meeting, the Steelers contained him reasonably, forcing tougher throws and limiting explosive plays.

That blueprint now faces a higher level of difficulty.Baltimore’s rushing depth adds another layer. Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell punished Pittsburgh on the ground earlier this season, forcing defenders to crowd the box. If that balance holds, Jackson will find cleaner looks downfield. The Steelers must again push Baltimore into obvious passing situations to survive.Offensively, Pittsburgh faces its own uphill climb. The absence of DK Metcalf and Darnell Washington strips away two reliable targets. That pressure shifts onto Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Pat Freiermuth, while the run game with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell must finally spark life. Without rhythm early, the burden will grow heavier.With Jackson back, Baltimore holds the sharper edge. In a rivalry defined by toughness, his return tilts the night toward imagination, speed, and a quarterback ready to carry everything on his shoulders.Also Read: